Field Marshal KM Cariappa

ROHIT SINGH

Introduction "ELONGING TO THE +ODAVA MARTIAL CLAN &IELD -ARTIAL +- #ARIAPPAS !RMY CAREER spanned three decades (1918-1953). A proud warrior, Cariappa was fiercely independent minded. Fond of reading, sports and music, he was a great success with children and had deep admiration for the apostle of non violence-Mahatma Gandhi. His illustrious career had many firsts; the first Kodava to join the first batch of Indian cadets at the Daly College, Indore; the first Indian officer to enter Staff College Quetta; the first Indian Brigadier to enter Imperial Defence College, UK; the first Indian Major General and of course, the first Indian Commander- in-Chief. He retired from the Indian Army in 1953 and served as High Commissioner to !USTRALIA AND .EW :EALAND TILL  His love for the jawan and patriotism were legendary and won him respect and admiration from all ranks. For his epochal contribution to the ethos and culture of the Indian Army he was anointed, the Field Marshal in 1986. He died on 15 May 1993.

Early Career Commissioned into the 2nd Battalion 88th Carnatic Regiment, he was transferred to 2nd/125 Napiers Rifles that was renamed the 5th Rajputana Rifles after )NDEPENDENCE (E SAW SERVICE IN -ESOPOTAMIA )RAQ BEFORE BEING TRANSFERRED AGAIN TO 0RINCE OF 7ALES OWN th Dogra Regiment seeing service in the North West &RONTIER PROVINCE QUELLING 0ATHAN INSURRECTION )T WAS HERE THAT HE HAD HIS lRST baptism under fire fighting some notable actions against the formidable pathans.

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Cariappa devised He was transferred again to 1st Battalion of the 7th Rajput his own young 2EGIMENT #ARIAPPAS INTERACTIONS WITH THE "RITISH /FlCER officers’ dos and AND LADIES GREW .ICKNAMED @KIPPER BECAUSE THE LADIES don’ts; don’t be could not pronounce his name, Cariappa was referred to conceited or by this nick name even by the Prime Minister, Nehru and snobbish; don’t SUBSEQUENTLY BY )NDIRA 'ANDHI (E ENDEARED HIMSELF brag of what you with the British gently by playing cricket and hockey. can do at games During his days at Staff College Quetta, Cariappa or work, etc. DEVISED HIS OWN YOUNG OFlCERS DOS AND DONTS DONT BE CONCEITED OR SNOBBISH DONT BRAG OF WHAT YOU CAN DO AT GAMES OR WORK ETC During his discharge of duties, Cariappa had the occasion to travel far and wide to foreign shores as a young officer in the British Indian Army. (E WAS THRICE @MENTIONED n IN DESPATCHES FOR HIS VALOUR IN THE 3ECOND 7ORLD War; he saw service in the 10th )NDIAN $IVISION IN )RAQ )RAN AND 3YRIA (E SAW brief service with the famous 8th British army before serving in Burma to fight in the Arakans. After the second war he once again saw service in the North West Frontier service becoming the Bannu Brigade Commander. While attending Imperial Staff College at London, Cariappa was known to have etched out his vision for the role of a united Indian Army, as a Keystone between the East and west. He believed that the Indian Army was destined to play a significant role in preserving the unity and integrity of the vast Indian nation. He was incharge of Western Command which conducted the Kashmir operations. As Western Army Commander Cariappa had to kow tow to the cease fire ordered on 31 Dec 1948 when the Indian Army had its tails up and poised to recapture areas lost to the Pakistani Kabalis as also were on the verge of reinvesting Gilgit. On being harried as to why he listened to such orders, Cariappa replied, “that it was the Government who dictates and determines policy”. He expressed HIS DISAPPOINTMENT BUT BRUSHED IT ASIDE BY SAYING @ORDERS WERE ORDERS He retired from the Army on 14 January 1953 at the age of fifty four. He very reluctantly accepted a gift after great persuasion by his Staff Officers. But as was his wont he asked for a replica of a jawan mounted on a wooden base with the crests of THE !RMY (EADQUARTERS AND THE THREE REGIONAL !RMY #OMMANDS 0ERHAPS ,T 'EN 300 4HORAT WHO WORKED UNDER THE # IN # BEST DESCRIBED #ARIAPPA hxWHAT GAVE me greater satisfaction was the knowledge that I was working for a man whose personal integrity and integrity of purpose was a model for great men to envy and lesser men to copy. The impress of your dynamic yet understanding, driving yet KINDLY AND GREAT YET GENTLE PERSONALITY WILLx ,AST MY LIFE TIMExv

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Commander-in-Chief He took over as C-in-C on 15 January 1949. Known for his personal touches and easy ways with his command he believed in the necessity and power of personal COMMUNICATION ADDRESSING HIS TROOPS FREQUENTLY (E WAS IMMACULATELY DRESSED at all times and wore a flower in his button hole.

High Commissioner Down Under Extremely fit, Cariappa had indicated his willingness to be of service to the nation in any appropriate capacity. Known for his grip on the problem in the North East, it was expected that Nehru would appoint him Governor in one of the Seven sister states. But it was not to be. Instead he was appointed ambassador $OWN UNDER 2UMOUR HAS IT THAT .EHRU WAS OVERAWED BY #ARIAPPAS IMMENSE popularity not only in the Army but amongst the countrymen and wished him to BE IN FARAWAY LANDS FROM WHERE HE WOULD BE NO @THREAT TO .EHRU Before departing to Australia, Cariappa officially expressed his strong views ON REHABILITATION OF EX SERVICEMENxvTHE PRESENT DISCONTENT WHICH PREVENTS all among thousands and thousands of ex-serviceman rightly or wrongly must BE PUT RIGHT SOON IN OUR NATIONAL INTEREST (IS WORK AS (IGH #OMMISSIONER WAS COMMENDED BY .EHRU hx) SHOULD WRITE TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE HAVE APPRECIATED YOUR SERVICES AS OUR REPRESENTATIVE IN !USTRALIA AND .EW :EALAND IN promoting closer relations between these countries and ours.”

Later Retired Years A proud man, he forsook any proffered hands to help him move around in his old age. He had a subtle sense of humour and a rich fund of jokes and anecdotes. He ALSO HAD A QUOTE FOR EVERY OCCASION (E HAD A WONDERFUL CHILD LIKE QUALITY THAT never deserted him. The simplest of things gave him great pleasure. When finally the Government belatedly decided to confer the Honorary rank of Field Marshal, there were many who did not want him to accept it. Even #ARIAPPA BELIEVED THAT @%ITHER YOU ARE A &IELD -ARSHAL OR YOU ARE NOT  AS THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS @(ONORARY &IELD -ARSHAL "UT PERHAPS THE DISCIPLINARIAN in him compelled him to accept the Honorary Field Marshal rank in his very advanced old age, where, also he solicited no personal help to go through the investiture ceremony. Field Marshal Cariappa was cremated on the grounds of his beloved Roshanara on 17 May 1993. His samadhi is a peaceful place, surrounded by trees and flowering shrubs. No cement or polished granite other than the headstone.

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6ISITORS TO IT HAVE ASKED @WHY SUCH A SIMPLE PLACE FOR SUCH A GREAT MAN @4HIS IS HOW HE WOULD HAVE LIKED IT TO BE  REPLIED HIS DAUGHTER A virtuous, upright and simple man Field Marshal KM Cariappa set the tone for a unified, patriotic and apolitical Indian Army. This was his singular contribution. His personal charisma and ability to identify and resonate with the soldier at the lowest rung made him the supreme leader of men that he was.

Rohit Singh is an Associate Fellow at the Centre for Land Warfare Studies.

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